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The Vote Solar
Initiative |
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The Vote Solar
Initiative is a non-profit organization with the mission of
stopping global warming and increasing energy independence by
bringing solar energy into the mainstream. Fighting
global warming is the challenge of this century - and our
success will hinge on our ability to transition to renewable
energy. Solar energy – clean, homegrown and reliable – has the
potential to play a large part of the solution. While solar is
the fastest growing energy source in the world, we’ve just
scratched the surface of its potential. Vote solar is working
on the key policies necessary to bring solar to scale. Vote
Solar works with state governments to build sustainable solar
markets, removing regulatory barriers and laying the necessary
groundwork for a solar future. And Vote Solar works with
cities to build large – scale and cost effective solar
projects, building the economies of scale necessary to bring
down costs. |
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| Why Solar? |
| This country
generates 71% of its electricity using fossil fuels, and in
the course of doing so, emits 10.3 million tons of sulfur
dioxide2, 3.9 million tons of nitrogen oxides, 2.4 billion
tons of carbon dioxide , and over 50 tons of mercury a year.
These emissions are toxic to human health and constitute a
serious public health problem. A recent report by Abt
Associates concluded that fine particle emissions from fossil
fuel electricity generation kill around 30,000 Americans a
year, a rate higher than those killed by drunk driving or
homicide3. In addition to the serious human health effects,
emissions from fossil fuel electricity generation are the
single largest contributor to global warming, responsible for
36% of the country's emissions of carbon dioxide. Global
warming is the most significant environmental threat facing
the world today, with predicted effects ranging from a
dramatic rise in sea levels, inundating many heavily-populated
parts of the world; habitat changes that could wipe out entire
ecosystems; and increasingly severe weather patterns that are
anticipated to cost billions. |
| Solar's
Promise |
| Successfully
combating global warming requires a national transition to
renewable energy sources. Solar energy can play a large part
of the solution- studies show that with proper leadership;
solar PV can generate 80% of the country’s total residential
electricity demand by 2020. That’s the equivalent of removing
124 million cars from the road. |
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